Ukraine's Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev reported the information.The Ukrainian side, together with a delegation from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, visited sites in the Kirovohrad region to assess investment opportunities in mining and processing.“We inspected the Byrzulivskyi Mining and Processing Plant and the Likarivske deposit – promising sites we are considering for the Fund’s project portfolio. Titanium ores primarily are currently extracted here, with plans to develop zirconium extraction in the future. There are also potential deposits of hafnium – one of the rare earth metals used in nuclear energy, the aerospace industry, and beyond,” Sobolev wrote.He also noted that Ukraine is one of the world’s key suppliers of titanium, which is used in defense, aerospace, and high-tech industries.“Such field visits are important to assess on-site potential and take into account all aspects of future investments – for economic development, responsible environmental management, and community growth,” the minister stressed.According to Sobolev, the visit also included discussions with Kirovohrad Regional Administration head Andrii Raikovych and local authorities about subsoil use, water resources, forests, and natural areas.In September, a U.S. delegation will arrive in Ukraine to tour the country as part of efforts to implement a joint agreement on mineral resources and identify potential investment projects.